STUDENT ORGANIZES BOOK DRIVE

SCOTT CITY -- When it comes to charity, Scott City High School senior Christina Shaw doesn't do it by the book. She does it by the books.

Shaw -- aided by classmates involved in a new group called STARS -- has organized a drive to provide books to elementary students, kindergarten through sixth grade.

STARS stands for Success Through Achievements and Reading for Students.

Shaw said the group will be involved in a "Reading for STARS" literacy project each month through the end of the school year.

"This month's project is Books for STARS," she said.

The goal of the book drive is to provide every elementary student in the Scott City public school system and the parochial St. Joseph School with a book.

"Our goal is 600 books by the end of this week," Shaw said Monday. To date, she and the other students have collected about 175 books.

A hundred of those books have been collected by the Army recruiter's office in the Cape Girardeau area, Shaw said.

Seventy-five of those were collected at a Scott City High School dance last Friday where a children's book was part of the price of admission.

The high school's Future Teachers of America club sponsored the dance. Shaw is district president of the FTA clubs.

Shaw and her STARS group is seeking new and used children's books from area businesses and individuals.

The project has the backing of the Scott City Community Betterment organization.

Shaw came up with the idea while working with kindergarten students as a classroom aide.

Some children were having difficulty learning to read, she said.

Shaw discovered that some of the children came from homes with few children's books. "Some of the kids were having a real hard time trying to learn the letters and sounds at home," she said.

"I felt something needed to be done about it," Shaw said.

She hopes the book drive will encourage students to read at home.

While many of her classmates are thinking about Christmas vacation, Shaw has her mind on helping elementary students.

"I just like working with kids," said Shaw, who in her spare time helps direct youth activities at the First Assembly of God Church in Scott City.

"I am busy, but I love it," said Shaw. "I love to have more stuff to do."

Shaw and five other students spent part of their afternoon Monday, sorting some of the donated books by age group.

Ruthann Blanton is one of the club sponsors for FTA. She also is advising the new organization, STARS.

"It is a wonderful idea," Blanton said of the book drive. "It promotes learning in a fun way."

Blanton described Shaw as a take-charge student. "She doesn't need encouragement," said Blanton.

The donated books are in good condition, said Blanton. "At least half of the books have been new ones."

Shaw said that if the book drive falls short of its goal, the children's books will be donated to the various classes.

But Shaw hopes to meet the goal so that every child can receive a book.

Books can be dropped off at the Scott City High School library during school hours and at the IGA store in Scott City.